Behind the Blue

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 13, 2021) – One of the many jewels in the crown of the University of Kentucky is the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce.

This distinguished graduate program has been preparing its students for careers in both public service and the private sector for 60 years.

Recently, Carl Nathe of UK Public Relations and Strategic Communications had the chance to talk with faculty member and interim director of the Patterson School, Kathleen Montgomery, for this latest installment of the ‘Behind the Blue’ podcast.

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email [email protected] or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 6, 2021) – Four decades ago, Northern Ireland native Jonathan Allison earned an exchange scholarship to pursue graduate study in the United States.

His original plan was to earn a Master’s degree then return to his homeland to resume his career of teaching literature and poetry to high school students. Instead he wound up earning a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and decided to become a college professor in America.

It became the good fortune of the University of Kentucky to hire Allison to join the faculty of the Department of English in the College of Arts and Sciences in 1988. He’s been at UK ever since and currently serves as chair of this esteemed department.

Carl Nathe of UK Public Relations and Strategic Communications recently did an in-depth interview with Allison for this edition of ‘Behind the Blue’.

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email [email protected] or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 29, 2021) – On March 1, UK HealthCare opened its expanded Interventional Services facility at Chandler Hospital. Offering less invasive alternatives to traditional surgery, Interventional Services have seen tremendous growth in recent years.

Dr. Driss Raissi is the Medical Director for Interventional Services and the Vascular & Interventional Radiology Division Chief at UK HealthCare, and has overseen the expansion of this newly renovated, 50,000 square foot facility designed to accommodate the growing number of patients who qualify for less invasive surgery and procedures.

On this episode of Behind the Blue, Dr. Raissi talks about what interventional radiology covers, the life-changing impact it offers patients who cannot be served by other means of treatment, the benefits this new facility will provide the Commonwealth, and more.

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email [email protected] or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 22, 2021) – One of the career fields which promises plenty of opportunity now and for the future is engineering.

Whether it is civil engineering, computer science and engineering, mechanical engineering or another area of this wide-ranging field, engineers are problem solvers. As such they play a key role in everything from developing new health care technologies, to building better bridges, to finding solutions for environmental challenges.

Professor Rudy Buchheit is in his third year as dean of the University of Kentucky College of Engineering. In this edition of the ‘Behind the Blue’ podcast, Carl Nathe visits with Buchheit to talk about the ongoing growth of the college and more.

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email [email protected] or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 15, 2021) – Last March, as the country began to come to grips with a global pandemic, University of Kentucky officials made the decision to move all classes to online formats.

Thousands of classes and courses sections were moved – in two weeks.

In the last year, significant investments have been made in technology to help facilitate a combination of different formats for learning and classes – online and remote, in-person, hybrid and other teaching methods such as synchronous and asynchronous learning. In some ways, the pandemic has hastened a conversation around the different ways – and the best ways – students learn, particularly since our students have grown up with sophisticated technology at their fingertips.

To discuss trends in both technology and teaching, Behind the Blue talked with experts on campus, who are exploring what’s new in these fields as well as what works best for students and faculty when it comes to learning.

Kathi Kern is a professor of history, the director of the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching and Associate Provost of Teaching, Learning and Academic Innovation at UK.

Emily Croteau is a lecturer in biology at UK, who is interested in learning about best methods and practices in teaching biology, which includes using real-life examples to demonstrate how relatable biological concepts are to our lives.

Matthew Wilson is an associate professor of geography and a visiting scholar at Harvard, who co-founded and co-directs the New Mappings Collaboratory, which studies and facilitates new engagements with geographic representation.

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email [email protected] or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 8, 2021) – The Arboretum is a 100-acre public garden located on the campus of the University of Kentucky. It draws over 200,000 visitors annually who can see and learn about native and horticultural plants from across the Commonwealth.

The mission of the Arboretum is to showcase Kentucky landscapes and serve as a resource center for environmental and horticultural education, research, and conservation.

On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue’, Carl Nathe of UK Public Relations and Strategic Communications visits with Arboretum Director Molly Davis.

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email [email protected] or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 18, 2021) – The arts play a significant role in the quality of life for many of us. Music, theatre, dance, painting, sculpture, you name it…The work of artists touches us, inspires us, makes us think and so often brings us joy.

Mark Shanda came to the University of Kentucky as dean of the College of Fine Arts in the summer of 2017. In this installment of the ‘Behind the Blue’ podcast, Carl Nathe of UK Public Relations and Strategic Communications talks with Shanda about the continuing growth of the college, as well as the innovative ways its various units are still connecting with the public in spite of the ongoing pandemic.

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email [email protected] or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 12, 2021) – These are exciting times in the University of Kentucky College of Design, which prepares both undergraduate and graduate students for a wide array of career opportunities.

Mitzi Vernon is now in her sixth year as dean of the college. Vernon has led the college to develop new programs and expand collaborations with other academic units at UK.

And soon, construction is expected to begin on transforming an older part of campus into the new home for the College of Design, bringing students, faculty and staff together in ways not seen before.

On this episode of Behind the Blue, UKPR’s Carl Nathe interviews Dean Vernon about these topics and more

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email [email protected] or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 4, 2021) – Students often are figuratively encouraged to ‘reach for the stars’…Yet there are those who actually follow this aspirational goal in a very literal way.

For example: Longtime University of Kentucky Professor of Physics and Astronomy Gary Ferland, who recently received a very rare honor for his work in blazing new trails in his chosen field.

On this episode of Behind the Blue, UKPR’s Carl Nathe talks with Ferland about his life, his career, and why he loves working with students

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email [email protected] or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 2, 2021) – The University of Kentucky is prioritizing student success by providing resources which are making a real difference in improving retention and graduation rates across the institution. Research has proven the higher the percentage of freshman students who return for their sophomore year, the higher the percentage of students who successfully earn their degree.

For the past three decades, Toni Thomas has dedicated her UK career to helping students. On this episode of Behind the Blue, UKPR’s Carl Nathe talks with Thomas about UK CARES, the Center for Academic Resources and Enrichment Services

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email [email protected] or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.